John Bates at Museum of Costume, Bath

Cape with domed buttons, designed by John Bates for Jean Varon, late 1960s (c) Museum of Costume, Bath

The John Bates Fashion Designer exhibition is on at the Museum of Costume in Bath from:

"A major fashion retrospective of the work of John Bates, who designed under the name Jean Varon from the 1960s to the 1980s...

John Bates was acknowledged as one of the big four names of British fashion in the 1970s along with Jean Muir, Bill Gibb and Zandra Rhodes. Nowadays, however, his name is less well known amongst the fashion conscious, although ‘Jean Varon’ is a name with which women of a certain age will be familiar. John Bates has not, so far, been acknowledged and celebrated in fashion history. This exhibition will redress this imbalance.

John Bates’ intention was to produce good fashion design that could be afforded on a secretary’s wage. This exhibition will showcase 90 ensembles which bear out the designer’s words. From the Empire line styles and daring see-through mesh dresses of the mid 1960s to the bright prints, floating chiffons and couture clothes towards the end of his career, this is a must-see exhibition for everyone, young and old, who is interested in fashion of the 1960s and 1970s."

Also:
Vintage Fashion Guild: John Bates aka Jean Varon
V&A Museum: White PVC minidress by John Bates